Disabilities Services

Disabilities Services for Students

Lesley University is committed to the full participation of all students in its programs. In addition to this long-standing Lesley philosophy, students with disabilities have specific legal rights. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) are civil rights laws enacted to protect otherwise qualified individuals with disabilities from discrimination on the basis of their disabilities. Section 504 and the ADA define disability as the following: A student has a disability if s/he (1) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; (2) has a record of having such an impairment ; or (3) is regarded as having such an impairment. The provisions of both laws apply to Lesley University to provide appropriate services to all documented students with disabilities in Lesley's on- and off-campus programs.. The following is a summary of Lesley policy and procedures for students with disabilities seeking services under Section 504 and the ADA.

Students Initiate the Process

At the post-secondary level, it is the student's responsibility to initiate the process for disability services. An essential component of both laws is the right of the otherwise qualified individual to reasonable accommodation. The process for obtaining a reasonable accommodation is an interactive one that begins with the student's disclosure of her/his disability and a request for a reasonable accommodation. The student has the responsibility to provide Lesley University with appropriate documentation of her/his disability from a qualified physician or clinician who diagnoses her/his disabilities and sets forth recommended accommodations. Student information is kept confidential and is not disclosed to anyone without the student's consent.

Important Information For Students With Disabilities Seeking Services

Documentation is required for Disability Services to grant accommodations. Requests for accommodations and faculty/staff notification of disability must be requested by the student to Disability Services for every class for which s/he wishes to disclose a disability and receive accommodations.

Learning Disabilities and Attention Disorders

Maureen K. Riley
23 Mellen Street, 5th floor, Office 504
Phone: (617) 349-8464
Fax: (617) 349-8558

Physical, Sensory and Psychiatric Disorders

Laura Patey
23 Mellen Street,3rd floor, Office 313
Phone (Voice) (617) 349-8194 (TTY) (617) 349-8544
Fax: (617) 349-8558

*For Off-Campus Students with Learning Disabilities, Attention Disorders, Physical, Sensory and/or Psychiatric Disorders, contact Laura Patey.

Eligibility

Eligibility for disability services and all accommodations are approved by the appropriate contact person. The decisions are based upon the diagnostic documentation submitted. Documentation will be filed for proper record-keeping; disability-related information is not shared without the permission of the student. Once a student's disability is determined through appropriate documentation the process of establishing the requested accommodation will begin. The determination of whether or not a particular student meets the legal definition of a "qualified individual with a disability" should be made in conjunction with the appropriate contact person listed above. In order to ensure consistency and fairness, and to maintain necessary record-keeping, faculty should not make this decision by themselves. The disability contact person, the student and the instructor may contribute to establishing reasonable accommodations, as appropriate. A student without documentation who feels that s/he may have a disability should make an appointment to discuss necessary steps for obtaining documentation.

Integral to the definition of reasonable accommodation is the timeliness of the request for accommodation. Students must follow Lesley University accommodation timeliness. For example, sign language interpreters for a semester long course normally need four weeks to arrange. Classroom changes and faculty accommodation letters may take up to ten days. Thus, a student should initiate the process for obtaining a reasonable accommodation no later than the beginning of the course or courses in which s/he is seeking accommodation to enable the University to make any necessary adjustments and to obtain the required services. Therefore, it is recommended and most beneficial fora student to initiate the process for obtaining a reasonable accommodation to enable the University to make any necessary adjustments and to obtain the required services. It is important to note that requests for accommodations need to be renewed for each class.

What are the responsibilities of students for obtaining disability support services and reasonable accommodations?

• To initiate the process in a timely manner.
• To provide appropriate documentation of the disability.
• To disclose his/her disability to the appropriate Disability Services Administrator (see above).
• To renew the request for services every semester.
• To meet with faculty prior to or soon after the start of the semester to explain needs and accommodation arrangements.
• To keep track of academic process and to communicate with appropriate individuals about medical absences, requests for incomplete grade, course withdrawals, and academic status, as soon as these situations arise.

Syllabus Statement: On-Campus

To all students in this class:

Lesley University is committed to ensuring the full participation of all students in its programs. If you have a documented disability (or think you may have a disability) and, as a result, need a reasonable accommodation to participate in class, complete course requirements, or benefit from the University's programs or services, then you should, as soon as possible, contact the appropriate person for:

Learning Disabilities and Attention Disorders

Maureen K. Riley
23 Mellen Street, 5th floor, Office 504
Phone: (617) 349-8464
Fax: (617) 349-8558

Physical, Sensory and Psychiatric Disorders

Laura Patey
23 Mellen Street,3rd floor, Office 313
Phone: (Voice) (617) 349-8194 (TTY) (617) 349-8544
Fax: (617) 349-8558

The contact persons play the role of facilitator between the student's needs, faculty requirements, and administrative guidelines of the University. Disability-related information is not shared without the permission of the student.

Syllabus Statement: Off-Campus

Lesley University is committed to ensuring that all qualified students with disabilities are afforded an equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from its programs and services. To receive accommodations, a student must have a documented disability as defined by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), and provide documentation of the disability.  Eligibility for reasonable accommodations will be based on the documentation provided.

If you are a student with a documented disability, or feel that you may have a disability, please contact:

Laura Patey 23 Mellen Street, 3rd floor, Office 313
Phone: (Voice) (617) 349-8194 (TTY) (617) 349-8544
Fax: (617) 349-8558 

Faculty

If a faculty member has a documented disability and as a result requires a reasonable accommodation, then he or she should contact the Human Resources Department at (617) 349-8789, the Dean of the School in which s/he teaches, or the Program Director to establish the accommodation.

See section of the Faculty Handbook entitled, "Specific Information about the Rights and Responsibilities of Employees with Disabilities."